Phantom Phacts

[cinemediapromo]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 12:40pm

The Phantom of the Opera is the second longest running musical in Broadway history at 17 years – and going strong! Another Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Cats, which is no longer being performed on Broadway, is the longest running.

Michael Crawford was the original Phantom on Broadway, and Sarah Brightman was the original Christine.

Decca Broadway released two The Phantom of the Opera cast albums featuring the Original Cast, a two-CD complete cast album, and a one CD album of highlights from the show. Both CDs feature Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman in the roles they made famous!

Over 58 million people worldwide have seen The Phantom of the Opera, in 20 countries and 110 cities, making it one of, if not the most successful stage musical of all time!

On November 10, 2004, the chandelier crashed for the 7000th time on Broadway.

The The Phantom of the Opera Original Cast Album was first certified Platinum in 1989 and has since sold over 4 million copies in the U.S. alone.

The Phantom of the Opera is based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.

Hugh Panaro and Sandra Joseph are the current Phantom and Christine on Broadway.

The Phantom of the Opera was nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1988, and won 7: Best Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Michael Crawford), Featured Actress in a Musical (Judy Kaye), Best Scenic Design (Maria Björnson), Best Costume Design (Maria Björnson), Best Lighting Design (Andrew Bridge), Best Direction of a Musical (Harold Prince).

According to Internet Broadway Database, 15 men have played the Phantom and 19 women have played Christine on Broadway.

Each performance has 230 costumes, 14 dressers, 120 automated cues, 22 scene changes, 281 candles and uses 250 kg of dry ice and 10 fog and smoke machines.

Gaston Leroux’s book has been made into a movie many times, one of the earliest versions was in 1925, starring Lon Cheney as the Phantom. Robert Englund (best known as Freddy in the Nightmare on Elm Street films), played the Phantom in a 1989 film version.

In 2001 Decca Broadway released a remastered version of the The Phantom of the Opera original cast album.

Cats was performed on Broadway 7485 times. As of December 19, 2004, The Phantom of the Opera had been performed 7045 times. That’s a difference of 440 performances … and closing in on the record!

The Phantom's make-up takes 2 hours to put on and 30 minutes to take off.

Don’t forget to check out the The Phantom of the Opera original cast album, available on Decca Broadway!

I hope you enjoyed these Phacts!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 12:40pm

ummm...who cares?

[Marquise]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 12:46pm

i do. cuz as long as the stage version is around people can actually see how it's supposed to be performed, as opposed to that "thing" that's being called a motion picture.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 2:48pm

Oh, pish-posh. On its own, it is a very good film. If you insist on comparing it to the stage musical, then it falls short. But as a film, it worked very well. A few Golden Globe and Oscar nominations and some great reviews can't be too wrong!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 3:01pm

its a DREADFUL FILM, OF A DREADFUL MUSICAL. Period.

[Pinky]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 3:37pm

Beaverhausen....that's an interesting Phantom phact!

I saw the movie....didn't thrill me

[Marquise]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 3:38pm

DID HE JUST TYPE THE WORDS PISH POSH? DOES ANYBODY REALLY TALK LIKE THAT? SCARY...

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 3:40pm

Eden was the original choice for Christine.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 3:59pm

Whatever the facts may be, ALW and POTO still suck!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:12pm

HAHAHAHA! Marquise is, umm... funny. Yes, I typed "pish-posh". I talk like that when I'm being condescending. Sorry, should I say something more current and cliché and blunt, like "F*ck you, motherf*cker"? Do you understand that better? Open your mind. By the way, I picked it up from when I was in England... it's quite common across the pond, actually. I'm sorry that you are so concerned with being trendy, "fabulous" and whatever you want to be. If saying something as petty as "pish-posh" doesn't fit that bill, then I apologize for being so damn uncool. I MUST be a loser, huh?

I like POTO because of its love triangle story, paired with an operatic score, infused with rock stylizations. I am genuinely interested to hear WHY you all don't like it. Updated On: 1/27/05 at 05:12 PM

[Justice]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:16pm

(I have typed this many times, so forgive my repetition)

1. He stole a lot of the music from Puccini and Prokofiev.
2. I found the end of Act 1 to drag, and didn't feel like sitting through Act 11
3. Once you've heard the first three songs, you've heard the whole show.
4. The lyrics are whack!

[Joshua488]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:19pm

Hmm. Interesting reasons. I don't think "stealing" music is a problem. Just about every song written today has elements from already existing songs. So I don't mind that he borrowed from other composers.

I actually like the lyrics. I think that they might not be the most conventional lyrics, and you definitely wouldn't normally use phrases like that in everyday conversation, but, to me, it adds a sense of mystery and you actually have to process the lyrics sometimes to understand them. I like when a show makes me think; I hate when everything is fed to me and I don't have to use my brain.

I completely respect your opinion, Justice! :) Updated On: 1/27/05 at 05:19 PM

[Justice]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:21pm

But, Joshua, that's the problem with these lyrics. They don't make you think. They are too simple. That's why I didn't like it.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:30pm

Was it just me or were those "phacts" pointless? It's already common knowledge (among the theatre community).

Posted: 1/27/05 at 5:36pm

facts, is spelled F A C T S

Thank you.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:31pm

I want to justify my case...

"Masquerade - paper faces on parade,
Masquerade - hide your face so the world can never find you"

(What was WITH the Vogueing in the movie????)

The symbolism of the lyrics, the song, and the event are too simple, as if the irony isn't irony, but a cop out.

And how many times can they sing their love for one another, in the "twisted every way" that the triangle is going?

"Past the point of no return" is practically pointless, because we already understand his pain, longing, and desire.

"All I Ask of You" is just boring, and cheesy.

To be honest, there are only two songs I like in the show.
1. Prima Donna - Carlotta is the only INTERESTING role in this whole show, as she is the only one who has a substantial character. And I don't know why I like the song, considering it sounds SO similiar to the one that La Boheme performed on the Tony's in 2003.
2. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again - It's the prettiest song in the whole show - but, if she loved her father so much, why is she wanting to let go? As if she wants to rid memories?

I know that originally Phantom was supposed to be a biography based on Puccini, but ALW changed it to Phantom, so that is why some of the music is Pucciniesque (but doesn't explain why the title song sounds exactly like Battle On Ice by Prokofiev).

I admire originality, and this show is, to me, unoriginal.

But thank you, Joshua.I'm glad you respect my opinion, as I do yours.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:35pm

Justice, I love ya but why are you saying that the lyrics don't make you think when you have a picture of g(a)linda as your icon? I am getting SICK and TIRED of hearing people tear and pick at this musical to find things that is wrong with it. Why can't people who don't like it just let it be instead of posting the same crap on every single thread? Get's really annoying after awhile. Still love ya though.

[broadwaybaby1624]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:41pm

Ok I have to say, I definitely love ALW. Sorry for everyone who hates him, but I have to say, to hold the record for the two longest- running broadway shows, it's gotta be kinda interesting. Phantom is my favorite, and I loved the movie too. It was a different take but it was pretty intresting I thought. Emmy Rossum was awesome ...

Has anyone ever heard Yeston's Phantom? ALW and Michael (I think) Yeston came out with the same story for broadway around the same time- ALW got to print first and unfortunately, Yeston's version is lost. However, it's still great and I actually may like it more that ALW's version...

[Justice]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:44pm

DJ - That is not Glinda!!!!
That is JLT (I love me some JLT) as Glinda.
(And if this is a comparison of Phantom to Wicked - there is none.)

By the by, I was into Phantom long before you ever heard of it. There was a time when I once liked it. But, then I was opened to more musical theatre and ignorance was wiped away from my eyes.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:48pm

I am not trying to argue, trust me. It is just about every single thread someone has to bash either ALW or POTO. I used to love/still love POTO. I don't love it anymore because I think it is brilliant or the best show ever......I love it because it was the musical that brought me into loving musicals. And it is not you that I am miffed at, you just happened to be the last one that wrote something on this thread (sorry). About a month ago I was pratically told that I had no brains and do not deserve to be in or listen to musical theatre because I like ALW. Ever since then I have been on gaurd for things. Again, sorry the last post made you mad, it wasn't my intention. Promise. We cool?

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:49pm

I'd just like to point out that bashing ALW on basis of the lyrics is silly, since he didn't write them.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:51pm

"I love it because it was the musical that brought me into loving musicals"

Which is why I still have a special place for Cats.

But, then, I know the show is crap. But I still like it. It was the first B'way musical I ever saw.

And it DOES have SOME good songs.
I'll go hide under a rock now.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:52pm

We cool dj,
sorry for getting a little defensive. I just reread your first post and missed your intentions. (I even missed the smiley face) - so, my apologies to you.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:53pm

I am not saying that people shouldn't like it because that is your opinion and you are entitled not to like it and I completely respect it. Like, Priest....he pretty much said POTO was crap and that is fine with me but when people start bashing the shows fans (which has not happened on this thread yet but has on others) and repeating the same stuff over and over and over and over again....it gets old.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/27/05 at 6:58pm

Spider, I know what you are saying.

I once said that I loved Bernadette's Rose, and so someone (I think it was Dame) told me that I was a ignorant and should hurry up or I'll be late for the Brooklyn matinee.

How stupid is it to imply that I like a crappy show like Brooklyn just b/c I liked Bernadette in Gypsy.

It made me mad. And I see where you are coming from.
It's one thing to bash a show.
But you shouldn't necessarily bash the fans unless they give you reason too. (Or if the show is a show like Brooklyn, then you have plenty of right to bash the fans )

Updated On: 1/27/05 at 06:58 PM